What is SMS Blast and How Can You Send One Today?

what is sms blast

What is SMS blast meaning? SMS blast is the process of sending out a special discounted offer by text message to a large number of customers. It is an effective marketing tactic because most people are likely to pay attention to a text message vs email. Did you know that 80% of millennials check their phones first thing after they wake up? That means it is highly unlikely that people miss out on any information that they receive from their favorite brands via text! This article is a beginner’s guide on how to send out an SMS text blast and the best way to yield high returns from SMS Marketing.

Getting started

SMS blast marketing is a task doable for anyone. The simple, 3-step process involves:  

  1. Signing up with an SMS blast service  
  2. Uploading/manually adding contacts
  3. Selecting a payment option 

Doesn’t sound very complicated, does it? Platforms like ExpressText offer help videos at each step so that users are at ease. Blasting SMS is also extremely affordable which automatically means a high Return on Investment (ROI). SMS blast platforms offer a variety of features that enhance the value of an SMS. These include hyperlinks, 2-way communication, scheduled messages, templates, API, and many more.

Get permission before sending an SMS Blast Campaign

Have you ever noticed your favorite businesses asking you to join their text list by e.g. ‘Sending a word like SUB to 9878 to receive weekly updates and offers’ or anything similar? This is called an SMS text to join campaign. It is important to note that SMS blast Marketing is a permission-based form of marketing. This means that marketers require the consent of mobile phone users before sending them a text. How do you do that? well SMS blast applications provide customers with an assigned shared short code and one or multiple keywords depending upon the payment option that they select. A smaller start-up business such as an online food service will require a single keyword. Bigger, multinational companies with a large product portfolio such as Nestle will require multiple keywords to cater to each market segment. In any case, a company can promote this keyword online using social media, and if a customer subscribes by texting into the campaign they would be giving consent to receive more text messages from the business in the future. Moreover, clear guidelines on how to unsubscribe must also be given e.g. ‘Reply with UNSUB to stop receiving further promotional messages from this number’. It may seem like a hassle to go through these steps, but most countries consider it a legal obligation. Not only that but customers are more likely to trust companies who seek their permission and allow them to discontinue services if they wish, as it leads them to believe that they are more valued.

Leveraging the power of SMS  

The process of SMS Advertising doesn’t end with pressing send. The goal is to maximize customer turnout, and in turn, revenue. Marketers need to cleverly utilize SMS text blast service in different ways, such as:  

Timing  

If a text is sent out a week before the actual promotion using an SMS blast app, most people are likely to forget about it by the time it comes. Marketers can take advantage of the immediacy of text messages by sending out texts just a couple of hours before the event. Technology has made everything easier so consumers no longer need to plan ahead e.g. even if they receive a text about a sale at the last minute, they can simply shop online if they are unable to visit the outlet at such short notice. Life has become extremely fast-moving for consumers and businesses need to keep up with this pace if they wish to remain ahead of competitors in the industry.

Another way in which time plays an essential role in texting is working hours. Texts must be sent out during working hours or they are unappreciated by customers. However, this rule is flexible depending upon the nature of a business. Would you rather receive a text from a real estate business at midnight or your favorite fast-food brand? The latter, of course. For most businesses, it is appropriate to send out text messages between the hours of 8 AM-9 PM.  

It is the job of marketers to determine the right time to send blast SMS. Suppose a business is slow and a local café sends out a text message to consumers living nearby. The text informs them of a 50% discount on the purchase of all items and a musical night the very same night. However, the musical night begins in one hour. Customer turnout would not be as high as compared to if the text were sent during morning hours so that customers could make necessary arrangements.  

Content  

Another crucial feature of sending out an effective SMS message blast is the content of the text message. The wordings of a text message can make all the difference to customer turnout. A dull, monotonous text message is unlikely to get consumers excited about the prospect of a sale as compared to limited time, exclusive offer. In both cases, the discount offered is the same – but the difference is the idea that is projected into the minds of customers. A good marketer will portray the message in such a way that the offer is irresistible to the customers. 

Customer Support  

Don’t limit SMS to just advertising. It is a medium of communication that can be used for much more. Express Text SMS blast service offers two-way communication between customers and businesses which can be used for providing customer support. What’s even better is that this platform comes with a mobile application so that customer representatives can undertake operations through their phones. They are no longer tied to their desks with their PCs and phones providing support to customers. Signing up with Express Text means telecommuting from work, thus making life much easier for business employees.

Retaining Customers 

The aim of promotional offers is to attract new clients. But at the same time, it is crucial to retain existing clients as well. The 80-20 rule of business states that 20% of a business’s clientele is its loyal customers which bring in about 80% of the company’s profit! That’s something to think about. Thus, it is extremely important to make sure that these customers are happy. Businesses need to retain clients alongside attracting new ones. But how do they do this? One way to do this is to create a group or separate contact list of loyal customers. These customers can be subjected to exclusive offers e.g. at each customer’s 10th purchase with the brand, they receive a 10% discount. Moreover, giving importance to the customer goes a long way in customer retention. Customers need to feel valued by the business, especially nowadays, as a variety of businesses provide the same services so the extra attention and effort is what gives a business an edge over another. Technology offers a highly simple solution to this. SMS blast providers allow each text to be customized to the recipient’s name e.g. ‘Dear Adam’ or ‘We have an exciting new offer for you, Lauren!’ The process of customization is automated on the SMS blast app so users are not required to manually input each recipient’s name. SMS blast software automatically addresses a text to the recipient’s first or last name, depending upon the settings and input it is given. Come to think of it, would you feel more special if a message was addressed to your own personal name or if you were simply addressed as a customer? Businesses can also send out birthday greetings to their loyal customers as well as holiday greetings so that the customer feels like an integral part of the business. This is extremely important within the niche market where customers have very specific needs and high purchasing power. Again, the process of customization is entirely automated – with platforms like Express Text offering features such as templates and scheduled messages to make the process easier and smoother for the user.  

Marketing other channels via SMS 

Be it a startup company or an international firm, one channel of communication is never enough to market it effectively. The advantages of SMS can be used to boost other channels such as email and social media. This can prove to be very fruitful for a company especially when it comes to social media. The power of social media and the influence that it can create should not be underestimated. Companies can send out a text asking customers to like their Instagram page or follow their Snapchat with a hyperlink directing them to the relevant page. Through Instagram and Snapchat stories, customers can remain updated with the business. They can know of a change in location, timings of the business, the accomplishments and achievements, positive feedback received from other customers – practically anything that portrays a good image of the business. However, customers can leave negative reviews online as well so businesses need to maintain a good reputation by dealing properly with customers.  

Promoting SMS via other channels  

Grow your list of subscribers by promoting your SMS text to join campaign on social media, billboards, emails, websites, TV advertisements, radio, and more. The whole idea of using shortcodes as numbers is so that customers can easily remember them. If a shortcode and keyword are advertised on TV even for a few seconds, customers can catch sight of it and memorize it. In fact, surveys have shown that customers want to receive promotional messages via SMS so they are likely to make the effort of opting into an SMS campaign.

Advanced features  

Marketers can always use advanced features to their advantage to enhance an SMS blast. One of such feature available on SMS blast software is a hyperlink that is inserted to avoid longer messages. The reason why text messaging has the highest engagement rates as compared to any other communication medium is that they are short and concise so they are easier to read. Before, there was a 160 character limit on text messages. While technology has helped increase this character limit and SMS platforms now allow longer texts, it is not always effective to maximize the length of the text. Instead of boring customers with long messages they may not want to read, it is best to include a hyperlink for those interested in accessing further content. An effective text blast contains only the gist of the idea in a few, short lines.

Conclusion to SMS Blaster

In conclusion, SMS blasting is a highly effective marketing strategy. The Return on Investment that this marketing method renders is absolutely astounding. A small amount of investment yields high returns for businesses, so especially those firms with a smaller budget can benefit greatly from this. There are firms that existing and thriving solely due to digital marketing – especially SMS marketing. If you’re not already registered with an SMS platform, sign up on Express Text- one of the best SMS blast software for a budget-friendly experience and a much more profitable business.

 

How much does it cost to send an SMS blast online?

SMS blast pricing varies depending on the text service provider and the volume of text messages. The cost can be anywhere from 3 cents per text to 4 cents per text.

What number can I use to send the SMS blast?

By default, every Express Text account is set up with our 6 digit shortcode number 545454 that can send and receive text messages in bulk.

How can I get started with SMS Blasting?

You can find a texting service like Express Text and sign up for a monthly plan to get started using SMS.

Is it legal to send a text using an SMS Blast software?

Absolutely! However, it has to be done within certain carrier and legal guidelines. You should never purchase a list of phone numbers and you must have consent from your contacts to text them.

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